Syria: Bashar al-Assad on agenda in Geneva talks today

As a result of the steps taken towards ensuring peace in Syria, hundreds of women and children would be allowed to leave the besieged area of Homs. The UN mediator at the Geneva peace talks, Lakhdar Brahimi said that the opposition had agreed to give the government lists of detainees held by the armed groups. Hundreds of people are trapped in the old city of Homs, including some who are very ill, reports say. In return, the opposition has asked for the release of thousands of prisoners in government detention. If everything goes well, this would be the first outcome of the Syrian peace conference.

The Syrian government and the opposition have been communicating through Brahimi who said that he was confident of the talks on Sunday, January 26, adding that they had been characterized by “respect and exchange”.

The Syrian peace summit was held to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis that began in 2011 between the Bashar Hafez al-Assad, the President of Syria and the opposition, which resulted in the death of more than 130,000 people. Both the government and the opposition have been adamant in their stands till now. The opposition wants Assad’s regime to commit to the Geneva I communique that calls for a political transition in Syria.

Infoeditor